Miccosukee Gooseberry at Steven's Creek

Miccosukee Gooseberry
Originally uploaded by toadshade

After seeing Patrick McMillan's show on the Steven's Creek Heritage in McCormick County I just had to go see this place. It was only a short 90 miles from Columbia in the Carolina Piedmont near the Savanna River. This particular Gooseberry grows only in a county in Florida and here in SC. The place had a lot of what I consider mountain wildflowers, Dutchman's Breeches, False Rue Anemone, Spring Beauties, Lanceleaf Trillium (and two other Trilliums), Lanceleaf Anemone, Green and Gold, Buttercups and Ragwort. Shooting Star grows there but hadn't bloomed yet. The hike may be about 3 miles or more and goes down the ridge to Steven's Creek then loops back around the top of the ridge and rejoins the path above near the start for a perfect loop trail with points of interest on all parts. The ridge sports a Witchbroom Tree that was of interest as was the star of the hike - the Gooseberry pictured. It hasn't quite bloomed and hopefully I can get back down there when it does. It seemed to grow on the slopes with the Dicentra and False Rue and also, which was a little surprising, on the ridge. It's a thorny plant which I first mistook for a Hawthorne until I saw the buds.  Heard a Black-and-White Warbler, Northern Parula and Blue-headed Vireo.

It's an easy trip. I left at 8 am, took my time on the road and trail, and was back in Columbia by 2:30 pm.

toadshade

The Annual Oconee Bell Wildflower Pilgrimage

Bloodroot Buds
Originally uploaded by toadshade

We started early - 6 am, and headed up the interstate to see the Oconee Bells and any other wildflower that dared to poke it's head up. I drove and Bill navigated. The first setback was that 385 to Greenville was closed off which made the trip to see the Oreo Heifers an impossibility unless we wanted to double back on SC 11. We were pressed for time anyway and decided to hit the Bells at Devil's Fork State Park so we would have more time for Station Falls, Pearson Falls, and Bradley Falls. Our logic was - since we're coming later this year, there should be more of the Spring ephemerals growing. We were sadly mistaken.

The Bells showed up on time and gave quite a display of interesting photo ops. Heard a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and a Blue-headed Vireo also. After we finished there, we went on to Station Falls. The Toadshade Trillium were growing profusely and we ran into them way up the cove and anticipated a lot more later on. Then we ran into Windflower (rue anemone) and one measly Robin's Plantain. We were expecting some Green and Gold, Pennywort, Spring Beauties, Bellwort and Large Flowered Trillium. Instead we got more Toadshade, more Rue and Sharp-lobed Hepatica which is an early bloomer like the Toadshade. Some Mayapple were coming up which gave the floor a nice green Spring flavor. Had some interesting birdlife there - Common Raven, 2 Pileated Woodpeckers, an Eastern Phoebe, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and a few Titmice and Chickadees.

After that we went to Green River Barbeque to wallow in hog fat and analyze our data. Bill checked photographic records from last year and discovered that a few more of the species we'd expected had bloomed last year at this time, name Large-flowered Trillium, Spring Beauties, Bellwort and Canada Violets. We surmised that the extremely cold Winter put a little delay on the growing season.

We then headed to Bradley Falls to checkout the place for later adventures. It wasn't far from Saluda, about 5 miles, and seemed to be a popular day hike area. Once we got down there, we realized that you have to be prepared for scrambling over rocks and getting your feet went and it's not conducive for carrying a lot of photo gear. So we decided to check it later and come prepared. We went down as far as Cove Creek where there was a memorial to someone who had died while climbing the rocks down there. It's pictured in my Flickr photos of the trip. It was a beautiful area with Toadshade trillium growing beside the path along with beautiful Smooth Yellow Violets.  Also, at the head of the path, there was evidence of an old homestead.  There were no buildings, boards or ruins, to testify to this.  What survived were the things that embellished the land and lives of the people who lived there - the flowers.  There were Daffodils and Periwinkles everywhere and what used to pass for an Orchard right beyond.  But the most pensive was a Periwinkle growing in the fork of a huge Sycamore.  You just wonder how it got there.  Did the inhabitants plant it, did the birds drop it, or did the Sycamore pick it up when it was much younger?  At any rate, it's a wonderful blend of the two cultures.

We decided to swing back by Pearson's Falls on the way back and see if it was a little more advanced than the rest of the places. It turned out to be pretty much in line with everything else. Plenty of Toadshade but not much else. We did finally find a couple of Spring Beauties growing along with Toothwort and Bloodroot pictured here. This helps to contrast with last year since bloodroot is usually on the wane instead of just budding. It was a great day and may inspire some more trips this Spring when the others are ready to show.

toadshade

Spring!!

Spring!!
Originally uploaded by toadshade

I ran 3 miles today around the neighborhood in 28:06 at 9:22 per mile. I took this picture the other day of Pear Trees and blossoms down at Southeast Park. Am having some sickness due to a sinus infection and laryngitis which put me out for a few days. It's not in my lungs so I can still run and the quick 3 miles was like a Godsend. Feel cleaned out. The laryngitis is a bigger problem since I have to counsel and lecture at work. I need a few talk free days so maybe the weekend will help.

toadshade

The Laryngitis Wheezing 5

First run since I got sick the other day.  I'm not running fever but my sinuses are clogged and I have laryngitis.  The run was ok except for the wheezing death rattle.  The run was 47:57 at 9:36 a mile.  Not bad really.  The legs and stamina were fine.  Will have to keep monitoring the other condition.  Took some Bluet pictures since they're blooming everywhere in the open fields now.

toadshade

The Rainy Late Winter 5 Miler

I did a pretty decent tempo run today that indicated I was tightening up in my training.  It had a little zap to it, energy wise, even though it wasn't the best time - 48:48 at 9:46 per mile.  Not much birding besides Robins still flocking in the yards and fields.  Heard one in my yard today chirping its mating call so maybe they'll quit ganging up and settle down to some responsible family life.

toadshade

The Snowflake 3 Miler

Lily of the Valley
Originally uploaded by toadshade

Ran across these beauties on my 3 Mile Asbury Church run. It was good to see Spring coming out in such beautiful whites. My friend Pat in England has been sending pictures of Snowdrops which are everywhere in England at present. They look a lot like these. The run was good and brisk at 27:55 for 3 miles.

toadshade

The Agonizingly Slow 12 Miler

I did my 2nd 12 miler in preparation for the Palmetto Half Marathon.  Started slow and stayed that way.  I was slow and sore toward the end but I felt the run was good since I didn't slow down or wilt.  I think my body is just used to long distance and preserves some innate stamina even when I'm not in very good shape.  It paid off since the recoup time was a lot less than the last 12 miler.  I'm getting there!

toadshade

Spring Blossom at Dickcissel Field 5 Miler

Spring Blossom
Originally uploaded by toadshade

Caught this beauty since my eye is looking out for any remote sign of Spring. Can't quite figure out what it is, maybe a Cherry. The run was good and quick at 48:00 minutes at 9:36 pace. Am doing some catch up here so can't remember much.

toadshade

Early Wildflowers at Southeast Park

Common Chickweed
Originally uploaded by toadshade

I went out to stretch my sore muscles from yesterday and get a glimpse of the changing season. Still not much happening but I did get a few shots of some late Winter wildflowers. The Common Chickweed and Bitter Cress (which may be growing in your yard right now) were taking advantage of the sun's rays and longer days. These two get overlooked a lot since they're fairly small and fit into what most people would call 'weeds.' Another early bloomer was the Field Pansy (Viola bicolor) which grows in profusion in the fields in Springtime. There ware a few Dandelions out there along with a Veronica or two. The Partridgeberries were just putting out their red berries and hopefully we'll get a glimpse of their white fringed flower in the near future.

The birding was good with the Yellow-rumped Warbler dominating. Not the huge flocks of Robins like last week which may be a sign that they're pairing off to mate. I hiked 4 miles. The temperature was in the mid 60s and it was a beautiful day. Bird list below:

Location: Southeast Park
Observation date: 3/7/10
Number of species: 23

Mallard 2
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 3
Mourning Dove 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 3
Carolina Chickadee 1
Tufted Titmouse 2
Brown-headed Nuthatch 1
Carolina Wren 2
Eastern Bluebird 4
Hermit Thrush 1
American Robin 2
Brown Thrasher 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler 15
Pine Warbler 1
Eastern Towhee 2
Field Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 5
Northern Cardinal 2
House Finch 4

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

toadshade

The Green Sower 12 Miler

The Green Sower
Originally uploaded by toadshade

The Green Sower as opposed to the Grim Reaper? Get it? Well it's a pretty bad pun but there wasn't much to photograph out there today. Did a 12 mile run that exposed my lack of training. I did it in 2:03:19 which was about 10:16 per mile. I was sore as hell in the last 2 miles but, surprisingly, didn't lose my pace. Part of the reason for that is mile 11 has a long downhill slope which is a blessing for tired spent legs. You can add what little energy you have left and let the inertia take over. It was good to get this run in before the half marathon next month. Need to work on shorter more intense runs, at least 4-5 a week, do a couple of 10-12s and a tempo 8 or two and I'll be ready. Easier said than done.

The birding was good at the field with Pipits, Bluebirds and Meadowlarks taking advantage of the bright, sunny, Winter day. Good to be alive!

toadshade

The American Pipit 5 Miler

Finally got out and ran a quick 5 miles at a 9:28 pace. Total time was 47:23 which was pretty good. The 55 degree temperature helped the quick pace since the wind picked up in the last 2 miles. Saw a small flock of Pipits down at the field which is still wet and green with Winter Rye. The wind was cold and biting but the Daffodils spoke beautifully of the coming Spring.

Toadshade


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